Three of the Keweenaw’s bat species migrate south for the winter, with some, like the hoary bat, traveling as far as Central America before returning to their spring and summertime breeding grounds in North America.

The remaining four species spend their winters hibernating deep within caves and abandoned mine shafts throughout the region. Approximately 90% of Michigan’s hibernating bats overwinter in the Upper Peninsula, with these hibernation sites — called hibernacula — housing anywhere from a few individuals to tens of thousands.

While their erratic flight patterns and nocturnal behavior cause some people to fear them, bats play a vital role in Michigan’s ecosystem and economy.

A single bat can consume thousands of insects in one night, including disease-carrying mosquitoes and crop-damaging pests.

By naturally controlling insect populations, bats reduce the need for pesticides, with some studies estimating they save U.S. farmers more than $3 billion per year.

But Michigan’s ecologically and economically important bat populations are facing serious challenges, including habitat loss and becoming infected with white-nose syndrome.

Entire colonies can be lost within a few years because the fungus spreads from cave to cave and from bat to bat through social grooming and close contact.

In response to the rapid decline of Michigan’s bat population, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community organized a collaborative research effort known as the Bat Blitz in 2024.

Made possible through federal funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the goal of the Bat Blitz was simple: to build skills for bat conservation entities by training together and sharing expertise across state, federal and tribal agencies.

Over the course of three nights, biologists from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s Natural Resource Department were joined by partners from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The biologists closely monitored the nets throughout the night, and once captured, the bats were carefully removed, examined and documented before being released unharmed.

Because Michigan is home to over 500 vertebrate wildlife species, this type of cross-agency training is crucial.

While it is common for environmental agencies in Michigan to have someone on staff who specializes in wildlife, it is rare to have someone with extensive experience with bats. And with experts estimating that 52% of bat species in North America are at risk of severe population declines in the next 15 years, time is important.

“It’s always great when you get together with an open mind and share techniques and knowledge,” said DNR biologist and 2025 Bat Blitz attendee John DePue, who specializes in bats. “While all our biologists are experienced with wildlife, some are just starting in the bat world and don’t have a lot of hands-on experience. Those of us who do are happy to teach. We’re passionate about bats, and we enjoy sharing our tools and techniques with others.”

Joining DePue at the Blitz was Kyle Seppanen, a wildlife researcher with the KBIC’s Natural Resource Department, who helped host the event.

Three bat species were captured during the most recent Bat Blitz, including a little brown bat that was fitted with a small tracking transmitter before release.

These tiny radio transmitters are temporarily attached using a safe adhesive, allowing researchers to track the bats’ movements. Scientists use antennas like the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to detect the signals for short periods of time, as the transmitters are designed to fall off after a few weeks. This data helps researchers better understand habitat threats and identify migration and roosting areas.

The data collected through the Blitz will also support field-based training for dog detection teams and advance efforts to locate and protect bat roosts on lands managed by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Emmet County.

A bat roost is any place a bat uses for shelter and protection from predators. Common roosting sites include caves, hollow trees and human-made structures such as attics or mines.

Bats often have multiple habitats for hibernation and breeding. Protecting maternity roosts is especially critical for the survival of Michigan’s bat populations, and knowing their location helps conservation efforts.

“Even though bats are sometimes referred to as ‘mice with wings,’ they are very different from mice,” said Jenny Wong of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who also attended the Bat Blitz. “Rodents can produce dozens of litters a year, resulting in hundreds of offspring. Most of Michigan’s bat species give birth to just one pup annually. Even though some species can live 30 to 40 years, their low reproductive rate means every individual matters when it comes to rebuilding populations.”

You can also assist the DNR and the Michigan Natural Features Inventory at Michigan State University by reporting bat roosts through the Roost Survey Form on the MNFI website.

“The public’s perspective on bats has changed,” Seppanen said. “People want to help bats now instead of immediately wanting to kill them because they understand how important bats are to our ecosystem and economy.”

Working with bats is not without risks, and handling them is not recommended due to the risk of rabies. Only about 1-5% of bats carry the disease, which is a significantly lower rate than raccoons, which test positive at roughly 20%.

To combat the risk of disease, the biologists involved with the Bat Blitz emphasize handling every bat with care during their collaborative training sessions.

“We wear personal protective equipment to protect ourselves while handling bats,” DePue said. “But we handle every bat like it’s the last of its kind on the planet.”

Another cross-agency Bat Blitz is scheduled for later this year.

“I’m hoping we can expand tribal participation and further strengthen these partnerships this year,” Wong said. “These efforts help us identify where surviving bat populations remain and focus conservation efforts where they are needed most.”

Learn more about Michigan’s bats and bat conservation at Michigan.gov/Bats.

“The purpose of the CO Cadet Academy is to give cadets a weeklong glimpse into what our traditional training academy looks like,” said Conservation Officer Brad Bellville, who helped organize the Cadet Academy. “This is a great opportunity for individuals who are too young to start the CO hiring process. By the end of the week, they should know if this is the correct career choice for them.”

All costs, including lodging, meals and activity supplies, were covered by the DNR, through the Michigan Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funding Program, awarded by the U.S. Department of Treasury and administered by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.

Cadets were responsible for their own transportation to and from the RAM Center.

Conservation Officer Training Academy

Conservation officers have a unique role in law enforcement. They have the same credentials as city and county officers and Michigan State Police troopers, but COs receive additional training specific to enforcing the laws and rules governing use and enjoyment of natural resources. They spend most of their time patrolling outside, where people recreate.

And yes, COs can give you a speeding ticket.

The CO Training Academy is an intense, structured academy that lasts an average of 23-26 weeks, where recruits complete training that certifies them as law enforcement officers in Michigan. Additionally, recruits learn the rules, regulations and enforcement specific to the DNR.

Cadet Academy

“Our training academy is extremely difficult for someone who isn’t prepared for it,” said CO Tim Rosochacki, who helped with Cadet Academy. “The Cadet Academy will help prepare someone by giving them things to focus on and work toward if they want to become a CO.”

The Cadet Academy also helps DNR Law Enforcement Division staff evaluate the cadets.

Cadets arrived at the RAM Center at 6 p.m. They were introduced to the staff, instructed to change into their uniforms, learned the expected behavior and conduct for the week and given a tour of the property.

“Immediately, it was head forward, walking in step,” said Jack Byrne, a 21-year-old senior at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo who is originally from Naperville, Illinois. “It was very strict and stern, but that’s part of the job. Law enforcement must show excellence and professionalism so the community can count on us.”

Each day of Cadet Academy was structured similar to the CO Training Academy.

“Two cadets share a room and will be roommates for the week,” Byrne described. “Wake-up call is at 5:30 a.m., physical training is at 6 a.m. followed by chow. After that, we went to the classroom for several hours of lessons.”

Cadets spent most of the morning in the classroom and were outside for the rest of the day. Classroom lessons included the history of conservation officers, conservation law, preparing for patrol, and fish and game rules and regulations.

Additionally, cadets earned their boater and off-road vehicle safety certificates during the academy.

“We were outside a lot, getting hands-on experience, which was really nice not being stuck in a classroom all day,” said Haley Scott, a 21-year-old from Niles, Michigan who is a senior at Western Michigan University. “One day we did fish identification, getting to touch, feel and really see the difference between all the fish species. We worked through a deer poaching crime scene, seeing what that looks like and how COs investigate.”

Evenings included team-building exercises.

“My favorite part of the Cadet Academy was building camaraderie with other cadets,” Byrne said. “After dinner we returned to our barracks to study. We could sit down and have more time to learn about each other, why each person is here and why they want to become a CO.”

Cadets also spent time learning from staff with the other DNR divisions, such as Wildlife, Fisheries, Forest Resources, and Parks and Recreation.

“We brought in the other divisions from the DNR to explain who they are and what they do and how all the divisions work together under one big umbrella,” Bellville said.

Conclusions

Based on feedback COs received from cadets, the Cadet Academy helped people arrive at one of three conclusions:

• They can’t wait to apply to become a CO.
• They are interested in pursuing a different DNR career that they learned about during the Cadet Academy.
• A career in law enforcement or the DNR isn’t for them.

“This is a strict academy, it’s not a summer camp,” Byrne said. “You’re here to learn, excel and grow.”

“We kept reminding cadets that they were on a weeklong interview,” Rosochacki said. “The academy served its purpose and helped some cadets walk away eager to apply as a CO, or made others realize this wasn’t for them, which is OK.”

Both Byrne and Scott hope this is only the beginning.

“Cadet Academy made me consider a lot of factors – the week was tough, I haven’t experienced anything like this in my life before,” Byrne said.

Bellville, who was also a staff instructor at the most recent CO Training Academy that graduated 15 new probationary conservation officers on July 3, said that physical training is often one of the top hurdles people face in the academy.

“Physical training was the most challenging part of the Cadet Academy for most,” Bellville said. “However, for the cadets serious about becoming a CO, it helped them realize how they need to improve before they apply to the CO Training Academy.”

To become a law enforcement officer in Michigan, all applicants must successfully pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards physical fitness test.

“I’m 100% focused on preparing myself, whether its physical training, studying laws and regulations within the DNR, all to help prepare me to become a CO,” Byrne said.

Scott is also using her experience from the Cadet Academy to recognize her strengths and areas to improve before she plans to apply for the next CO Training Academy.

“Cadet Academy helped me learn areas I can improve,” Scott said. “I’m not a big hunter, especially waterfowl, so waterfowl identification was an eye opener to me. I am an avid angler, so that was nice to see what topics I know.”

The application process for the 2026 Cadet Academy will soon be available on the DNR website. Anyone interested in becoming a CO is encouraged to begin researching the career.

“I recommend Cadet Academy to anyone serious about becoming a CO,” Scott said. “Cadet Academy made me love the job even more – getting to see what COs do and how they handle themselves in situations, it’s everything that I could ask for in a career.

“Going to physical training in the morning, yes that’s tough, and the recruit school is super tough, but once you graduate, you have your whole career ahead of you. It’s just a small part in a rewarding career.”

To learn more about the CO hiring process or Cadet Academy, visit Michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/hiring.

The 2025 Michigan DNR Conservation Officer Cadet Academy was supported by Michigan’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funding Program # FRF5311, awarded by the U.S. Department of Treasury, and administered by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (the Commission). Points of view or opinions contained within this document do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Commission.

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